light

To a plant freak like me, any discussion of light and my thoughts turn to exposure and microclimates. What plants prefer this type of light? What about that type of light? It is only after some time contemplating that, does the landscape architect and photographer in me turn on and I think about design and form and structure and composition.

Early evening light on Crocus speciosus.

Early morning light on Cistus x aguilarii

So Gardening Gone Wild's discussion this month is how light affects how we perceive a garden. Light affects the mood of the garden. Which had me thinking that although we can't control the weather, we can design for light in the garden.

Scotland's long summer days make for sunsets that last for hours and light the landscape.

New Mexico's intense light is ideal for lighting up delicate seed heads and translucent thorns.

New Mexico's White Sands are all about light and form.

 
This is particularly important in New Mexico, where light is so important. The light is what brings so many artists here. And it is not just the visual aspect of light, but the significance of light here in bringing heat, savored in the winter, and shielded from in the summer.

We can design for it in the garden by designing land form to capture light and to sculpt light. Controlling heat of course is an issue, with shady ramadas being commonplace here, but how about places for capturing winter heat? So then I return to the plants, and with these, New Mexico is an ideal place to recognize light.

There are so many plants that create delightful experiences with light, from the contrast of light on sculptural plants like agave and yucca, to the glitter of the tails of mountain mahogany in the afternoon light.

Yucca rostrata

Cercarcapus breviflorus seed tails sparkle in late afternoon sunlight with fairy-dust quality

Yucca faxoniana's curling filaments capture the late afternoon sunlight.